Windows Application Compatibility Mode

Windows Vista onwards Compatibility mode is provided in applications.  Compatibility mode allows a older application compatible for an earlier versions of Windows to possibly run in Windows 7.It runs the program using settings from a previous version of Windows.Changing the compatibility mode solves the problem most of the time which is generally crashing of an application while executing it on a newer Windows.Even If changing the Compatibility settings does not fix the problem,you need to check for an update for that application at the manufacturer’s website.
1.Right click on the program’s shortcut, Application file, or installation program.
2.Click on Properties.It will show properties of that application with few tabs.
3.Click on the Compatibility tab.
4. To Run a Program in Compatibility Mode you can select compatibility mode for a previous version of Windows.Choose the one this program works well on or the one you believe this program runs well on.
5.Check the Run this program in compatibility mode Check box.
6.Now Click on the drop down menu and select which version of Windows the program was made for.

7.Few more settings can be Changed to make the application more compatible.Checking the checkbox enables that particular setting.These settings are:
Run in 256 colors
Run in 640 × 480 screen resolution
Disable visual themes 
Disable desktop composition 
Disable display scaling on high DPI settings
8. Click OK to apply the changes.

  

It is recommended that Compatibility mode must not be used with system applications like system drivers or antivirus as that may cause losses & risks to your data.

Windows 7: Jump lists Customization

Windows 7 comes with a very handy feature called Jumplist. This feature shows a list of related tasks & Recent documents of a process or shortcut icon which is in taskbar. You can view & customize it easily.
1. Right click on any icon in the taskbar.
2. It will show a list of related tasks to that application as well, Number of recent applications.

3. If there is a shortcut you wish to see every time you open the Jump list of that application you can pin that as well to Jump list.
Say for Windows Media Player you have recent shortcut of a movie and you wish it to appear permanently then you can pin it to the jump list.

4. You can also customize number of Recent Items in Jump list.
    a. right click on Start Button or taskbar (Super bar) of Windows 7
    b.Click on properties. It will pop up Taskbar & start Menu properties.
    c.Select the tab ‘startMenu’.This will bring you Customize & Privacy options.
    d.Select Customize button there.
    e.Select Number of items in Jumplist from 10 to number you wish to.

5. Also you can choose default settings if you wish to undo all the changes you have done.

Windows 7: Start Menu Customization

Start Menu in Windows 7 can be customized according to user’s need. All the items in Start menu can either be set as display link or set as menu. Apart from it there are several more things to configure.
Steps are here:
1. Right click on Start Button or taskbar (Super bar) of Windows 7
2. Click on properties. It will pop up Taskbar & start Menu properties.

3. Select the tab ‘Start Menu’. This will bring you Customize & Privacy options.
4. Select Customize button there.

5. You can select the behavior of items in Start Menu. If you want them to behave as link, Menu or Icon.
6. Behaviour of items like my computer, Downloads etc can be set.
7. Also you can choose default settings if you wish to undo all the changes you have done.
8.Click OK to apply the changes.

Gmail : 3rd largest email provider, next to Windows Live & Yahoo

According to ComScore, a marketing research company, Gmail is now the third largest email provider in the United States.Gmail grew a remarkable 46 percent, from 25.3 million to 36.9 million users. Gmail is now on pace to overtake Windows Live Hotmail, at 47.1 million users, in around seven months.Yahoo Mail continues to lead the pack when it comes to U.S. email providers with 106.1 million visitors last month.

via Neowin

List of Windows Operating System Version Number

Here is a list of versions of Windows, since Windows Operating System 1.0. The distinguish of versions rather than OS names are important for developers and the distinguish of Windows structure. The list can also be found on MSDN OSVERSIONINFO Structure

List of Windows Client OS with their Version Numbers

Operating System	Version Number
Windows 1.0	1.04
Windows 2.0	2.11
Windows 3.0	3
Windows NT 3.1	3.10.528
Windows for Workgroups 3.11	3.11
Windows NT Workstation 3.5	3.5.807
Windows NT Workstation 3.51	3.51.1057
Windows 95	4.0.950
Windows NT Workstation 4.0	4.0.1381
Windows 98	4.1.1998
Windows 98 Second Edition	4.1.2222
Windows Me	4.90.3000
Windows 2000 Professional	5.0.2195
Windows XP	5.1.2600
Windows Vista	6.0.6000
Windows 7	6.1.7600

Source via MSIGeek

Nilkeni’s Dream : UID

Another out of scope Post.Its infact a cool joke.Too good to share.I got that as an email so no real sources can be cited.Hv a good read and Enjoy :

Nandan Nilekani can do it…..Fully integrated ID card system for Indian citizens

Operator : “Thank you for calling Pizza Hut . May I have your…”
Customer: “Heloo, Heloo, can I order..”
Operator : “Can I have your multi purpose ID card number first, Sir?”
Customer: “It’s he…, hold………..on……889861356102049998-45-54610″
Operator : “OK… You’re… Mr Singh and you’re calling from 17 Jal Vayu. Your home number is 22678893, your office 25076666 and your mobile is 09869798888. Today morning you landed in Indiaat IG InternationalAirport.. Welcome back, Sir. Which number are you calling from now Sir?”
Customer: “Home! How did you get all my phone numbers?
Operator : “We are connected to the system Sir”
Customer: “May I order your Seafood Pizza…”
Operator : “That’s not a good idea Sir”
Customer: “How come?”
Operator : “According to your medical records, you have high blood pressure and even higher cholesterol level Sir”
Customer: “What?… What do you recommend then?”
Operator : “Try our Low Fat Pizza. You’ll like it”
Customer: “How do you know for sure?”
Operator : “You borrowed a book entitled “Popular Dishes” from the National Library last week Sir”
Customer: “OK I give up… Give me three family size ones then, how much will that cost?”
Operator : “That should be enough for your family of 05, Sir. The total is Rs 500.00″
Customer: “Can I pay by! Credit card?”
Operator : “I’m afraid you have to pay us cash, Sir. Your credit card is over the limit and you owe your bank Rs 23,000.75 since October last year. That’s not including the late payment charges on your housing loan, Sir..”
Customer: “I guess I have to run to the neighbourhood ATM and withdraw some cash before your guy arrives”
Operator : “You can’t Sir. Based on the records, you’ve reached your daily limit on machine withdrawal today”
Customer: “Never mind just send the pizzas, I’ll have the cash ready. How long is it gonna take anyway?”
Operator : “About 45 minutes Sir, but if you can’t wait you can always come and collect it on your Nano Car…”
Customer: ” What!”
Operator : “According to the details in system ,you own a Nano car,…registration number GZ-05-AB-1107..”
Customer: ” ????”
Operator : “Is there anything else Sir?”
Customer: “Nothing… By the way… Aren’t you giving me that 3 free bottles of cola as advertised?”
Operator : “We normally would Sir, but based on your records you’re also diabetic…….. ”
Customer: #$$^%&$@$% ^
Operator : “Better watch your language Sir.. Remember on 15th July 2010 you were convicted of using abusive language on a policeman…?”
Customer: [Faints]

Microsoft LifeCam goes 720p : First consumer HD webcam

MS Lifecam is the first consumer webcam to support 720p video at 30fps. That’s the full 1,280×720, unlike some other attempts at so called HD video for some 2 Megapixel webcam’s that only managed 960×720 which isn’t really HD.

Other features include a glass lens, auto focus, 4x digital zoom and a digital, noise-cancelling microphone that is mounted on the top of the camera. Microsoft has also implemented what it calls ClearFrame technology which is meant to deliver smooth, detailed video, although we’re not quite sure what this does.

more @ http://www.pocket-lint.com

Microsoft roadshow on Windows 7 in 16 Cities

Microsoft India announced the commencement of a 16 city partner roadshow in its endeavour to get the ecosystem ready for the launch of Windows 7 in October this year. From August to September 2009, Microsoft expects to reach out to over 1800 partners across several cities including Ahmedabad, Cochin, Chandigarh, Coimbatore, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Indore, Jaipur, Lucknow, Pune , Ranchi and the five metros. The roadshows are aimed at equipping the partner ecosystem to effectively roll-out Windows 7 in India and maximize the tremendous business opportunity that the new operating system represents for them.

“We are very excited about the potential of Windows 7 and the combined value we can provide to customers. The roadshows will provide us a good perspective on the opportunities we can leverage with Windows 7 and enable us to maximize the enormous business opportunity it presents”, stated Mr. Sudarsan, CEO of Veeras Infotek, a Chennai-based Microsoft partner. To provide a further impetus to their Windows 7 partner program, Microsoft has also announced an exciting new contest called ‘Saath ka dum’, wherein partners can win upto Rs. 20,000 by rolling out Windows 7 in the country. “This roadshow is a great platform for us to engage with them and provide the resources they need to get ready for Windows 7 roll-out so that together, we can deliver a unique customer experience.” said Mr. G. Ramesh, Director- Windows Client, Microsoft India said. “We are optimistic about the long-term business opportunities Windows 7 represents for our ecosystem and are focused on working with our partners to realize this potential,” he added.

via Microsoft India Press Release

Identity Theft: Three Men stole 130 Million Credit Card Numbers

A Grand Jury indicted a U.S. man and his two co-conspirators for stealing 130 million bank card numbers in 2007. Albert Gonzales of Miami is charged with hacking and compromising major credit card hubs, including 7-Eleven, Heartland Payment Systems, and Hannaford Brothers.

According to the indictment, the men sold some of the numbers, which were used to make illegal withdrawals from multiple banks. They apparently got around the security of these systems with database injections that helped them intercept credit card transactions in real time

via Identity Theft: Three Men stole 130 Million Credit Card Numbers

Word case costs $40M to Microsoft

In the patent-infringement case against Microsoft Word, a Texas judge fined Microsoft $40 million for trial misconduct after a Microsoft attorney attempted to liken plaintiff i4i’s motives for suing the software giant to banks seeking government bailouts.

During the jury trial in May, Judge Leonard Davis warned attorney Matthew Douglas Powers – of the Redwood City, Calif., law firm Weil Gotshal & Manges – that he was misstating the law when he suggested to the jury that i4i was improperly suing Microsoft, not to protect its patent but to just get money.

more @ http://blog.seattlepi.com/microsoft/archives/176681.asp?source=rss